Business Networking Referrals When You're New To Town
What are the connections you are making? Who is in your tribe of friends and colleagues? The answer to these questions will tell you how successful your business networking referrals will be. Business referrals only work if there is a connection between the person giving the referral and the people receiving it. If there's not a shared relationship, it doesn't matter how good that person's referral is, it won't happen.
If you're new to town, business networking referrals may seem like an insurmountable challenge because you don't have many connections yet. When people refer others for professional connections, they tend to give someone who knows them well – someone from their 'tribe'. If your friends have a lot of friends, you may have a larger tribe than you think. Do you have any friends who are already successful business people? Then work on making connections with them.
When someone comes to town and they want to make contacts in their field, they often start with the people they know well first. For example, if you want to meet other local lawyers, you'll likely try to meet with the ones you know. If you're really new and don't have many people in your network yet, then it will take some time for your network of business contacts to grow. It may be helpful to start with those you know first, and then expand your contacts into other areas as you build your network over time.
If your referral is to someone who has more than one business, it matters that they know that person well. For example, if your friend wants to meet with a local doctor they know, they are making a referral not only to the doctor but also to their friend since there are likely other doctors she knows. The professional referral is made in addition to the personal one.
There's often a misconception about the amount of time it takes for business networking referrals to take place. Some people believe that people will start referring business to them as soon as they arrive in town. That's not true. Building a network takes time, and building a cluster of contacts who know you well enough to refer business to you takes even more time. Be patient and be persistent. Don't overwhelm yourself by trying to meet too many new people at once, or you'll find yourself frustratingly spinning your wheels in circles – if it feels like that's happening, back off and focus on just a few relationships for now.
You may find it helpful to have someone coach you through the process of professional networking referrals as you settle into your new town. It's easy to feel isolated and alone when you move to a new city. Having that person there to give you encouragement, help you form relationships and teach you the ropes will help smooth the transition of becoming part of your new city. Ask around your network for recommendations, or do an internet search for personal coaches in your area. Once you have a coach, it's best to meet at least once a month for about ten months or so. It takes time for people to get used to each other and develop a trustworthy relationship. It's better not to set expectations too high so that if people aren't able to refer work right away – something that can take up to four years in some cities – then it won't be as disappointing. If you meet with a professional . That's not true. It's better not to set expectations too high so that if people aren't able to refer work right away – something that can take up to four years in some cities – then it won't be as disappointing. If you meet with a professional coach or mentor on a regular basis , then it doesn't matter when business referrals start happening. [ARTICLE END]
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Disclaimer: The information contained in this email is for general guidance/use only. Please note that the above article does not necessarily reflect the position of Charm To Network & all company names mentioned therein are trademarks of their respective companies. No advice contained herein should be relied on without independent verification by the reader. The author/publisher makes no representation or warranties of any kind, express or implied and assumes no liability for the use of any of the information provided herein. Your use of this information constitutes your acknowledgement and acceptance of these terms.
This email may contain links to websites not controlled or monitored by the sender. The sender is not responsible for the content of those sites.